Improving Access to Health Information a Benefit for All
Improving the speed and efficiency
of care were the drivers behind two
major projects which now allow
health professionals to access
patient information more easily.
“Health professionals need to be as fully
informed as they can be to give the best
care in the shortest amount of time. These
systems help that process enormously,”
says Bay of Plenty District Health Board
(BOPDHB) Information Management General
Manager Owen Wallace.
Owen is talking about two new information
sharing systems ‘CHIP for GPs’ and
‘MedCheck’. These were developed by the
BOPDHB in cooperation with the district’s
three PHOs (Primary Health Organisations)
and various other health providers. He
explains the issue they have addressed.
or hospital,” says Owen. “Each holds
information about that person’s health
needs and medications. Until now that
information has largely remained with those
organisations.
“So when a person goes to their GP they
may well have to repeat a lot of information
that is already known and held by the
pharmacy and vice versa. CHIP for GPs and
MedCheck have linked up systems which
improves and speeds up patient care.
“Knowing at the touch
of a button what
medications
and dosages
a patient is
on avoids delays in patient care and gives
all the information necessary for decision
making.”
Simon Hodgson at Bureta Pharmacy says
MedCheck has been a game changer.
“It’s really changed the way we help our
patients,” he says. “We now have easy
access to discharge summaries to reconcile
their medication, in particular if there are
changes to their
regimen.
“We use it almost
every day now.
In fact a patient
discharged today,
without a
copy of a discharge summary, was given
their blister-packed medication in a timely
fashion after we were able to ascertain
the reason for medication changes online
through MedCheck.”
Clinical Pharmacist Murray Foreman, from
Medwise, agrees.
“Having access to discharge information
and dispensing information enables me
to have a clearer picture when I see a
patient,” he says.
“The ability to gather all the relevant
information and then ensure other health
providers are fully informed helps us
provide a high level of care to mutual
patients.”
Over 90% of the community pharmacies
in the district have joined the MedCheck
initiative and there are currently over 650
registered health professionals accessing
CHIP for GPs.
“People can receive healthcare from
several places, such as their GP, pharmacy,
Protecting Baby Starts in Pregnancy
The importance of expectant
mums getting immunised whilst
pregnant has been highlighted
during national Immunisation
Week.
The week, held between 2-8 May, ran
under a theme of ‘protecting baby starts
in pregnancy’ with mums-to-be urged to
get immunised themselves, immunise
baby on time and enrol early with a
midwife and a GP.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board
(BOPDHB) Midwife Leader Margret Norris
stressed the importance of immunisation
against whooping cough and influenza
during pregnancy.
“Whooping cough can cause babies to
become seriously ill, and can sometimes
be deadly. Immunisation against
whooping cough during pregnancy
protects nine out of ten babies in their
first few weeks of life, until they are fully
immunised.
“Expectant mothers should also get
the seasonal flu immunisation. Getting
the flu while pregnant can be serious for
the mother – and baby. In fact, pregnant
women are five times more likely to be
admitted to hospital when suffering from
influenza-related complications than
women who are not pregnant.
“Both immunisations are recommended,
free and have a proven safety record,”
said Margret.
Mum-to-be Sarah Dove said that by
protecting herself from flu and whooping
cough while pregnant she knew she was
protecting her baby in the first six weeks
of life.
Sarah Dove is encouraging other expectant mums
to get immunised for the sake of their babies.
“I would advise pregnant mums to talk to their
midwives early about immunisations. Make sure
you are enrolled with a GP and your midwife has
told your GP you are pregnant.
“Being enrolled with a GP gives you reassurance
that someone knows your history and is looking out
for your health.”
As well as encouragement to immunise baby
on time, the week also highlighted the role of
all health professionals working with new and
expectant parents - midwives, practice nurses, GPs
and hospital staff. As such the week was timed to
coincide with International Midwives Day and this
week’s International Nurses Day.
For more information on immunisation go to: www.
immune.org.nz, www.health.govt.nz/immunisation
or phone 0800 IMMUNE